Drug-labels.com

Apo-Linezolid: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

Updated:
Facts
Status:
Prescription (Rx)
Strength:
600 mg
Active ingredient:
ATC code:
Similar drugs:

Source: Health Canada – Drug Product Database (DPD) and product monographs · About this document

Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Apo-Linezolid

What is APO-LINEZOLID used for?

APO-LINEZOLID (linezolid) is an antibiotic medicine. It is used to treat the following bacterial infections in adults:

  • abdomen infections
  • skin infections
  • infections of system that carries urine out of body (urinary tract)
  • lung infections (pneumonia)

Antibacterial drugs like APO-LINEZOLID treat only bacterial infections. They do not treat viral infections. Although you may feel better early in treatment, APO-LINEZOLID should be used exactly as directed. Misuse or overuse of APO-LINEZOLID could lead to the growth of bacteria that will not be killed by APO-LINEZOLID (resistance). This means that APO-LINEZOLID may not work for you in the future. Do not share your medicine.

How does APO-LINEZOLID work?

APO-LINEZOLID belongs to the class of medicines called oxazolidinone antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria responsible for your infection.

What are the ingredients in APO-LINEZOLID?

Medicinal ingredient: Linezolid

Non-medicinal ingredients: Colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, magnesium stearate, methyl cellulose, polyethylene glycol and titanium dioxide.

APO-LINEZOLID comes in the following dosage forms:

Tablet: 600 mg

Do not use APO-LINEZOLID if you:

  • are allergic to linezolid or any other ingredients of APO-LINEZOLID (see What are the ingredients in APO-LINEZOLID?).
  • have uncontrolled high blood pressure.
  • have pheochromocytoma [a tumor of small part of the body, located on top of each kidney (adrenal gland).
  • have thyrotoxicosis (an overactive thyroid).
  • have carcinoid syndrome (a condition caused by tumours of the hormone system with signs of diarrhea, skin flushing, rapid heartbeat, wheezing).
  • are taking any of the medications listed in the Serious Drug Interactions box below.

To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take APO-LINEZOLID. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:

  • have a history of high blood pressure.
  • have taken a drug for low mood (depression) within the last 2 weeks (14 days).
  • are taking diuretics (water pills).
  • have a history of anemia (low red blood cells), thrombocytopenia [(low cells in the blood that help the blood clot (platelets)], neutropenia (low white blood cells) or any other blood related problems.
  • have liver problems.
  • have kidney problems.
  • have a history of bleeding problems.
  • have a history of seizures or convulsions.
  • have diabetes. You will need to watch your blood sugar closely.

  • are pregnant or trying to become pregnant.

  • are breast-feeding. Linezolid passes in breast milk. Your healthcare professional may advise you to monitor your baby for diarrhea or vomiting while being breastfed.

Other warnings you should know about:

Rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of damaged muscle):

  • APO-LINEZOLID may cause rhabdomyolysis which is the breakdown of damaged muscle. In some cases, this led to sudden kidney failure.

  • Your healthcare professional should do tests regularly if you:

    • are at increased risk of rhabdomyolysis or myopathy (disease of the muscles).
    • have recently taken or are currently taking other medicines that can cause rhabdomyolysis or myopathy.
    • get symptoms of rhabdomyolysis such as muscle pain, weakness, or dark urine. Your healthcare professional may then stop your treatment with APO-LINEZOLID.

Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.

Serious Drug Interactions

Do not take APO-LINEZOLID if you:

  • have taken certain medications used for low mood (depression) like isocarboxazid, phenelzine or tranylcypromine or medications used for Parkinson's disease like selegiline or rasagiline in the last 14 days
  • are taking any cold or flu medication containing pseudoephedrine or phenylpropanolamine*
  • are taking epinephrine, a medication used for severe allergic reactions
  • are taking any other medication that increases blood pressure like norepinephrine, dopamine or dobutamine
  • are taking any medication known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI’s) (e.g., citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline) or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) (e.g., desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, venlafaxine). These medications may be used for low mood (depression).
  • are taking tricyclic antidepressants, medications for low mood such as amitriptyline, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin, imipramine, nortriptyline
  • are taking medications for migraine such as almotriptan, eletriptan, frovatriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, zolmitriptan
  • are taking meperidine or other opioid, medications for pain
  • are taking buspirone, a medication for anxiety

* phenylpropanolamine is no longer marketed in Canada

The following may interact with APO-LINEZOLID:

  • Tyramine, a chemical naturally present in some pickled, smoked, or fermented foods or drinks like aged cheese and red wines. This interaction may cause a sudden increase in your blood pressure. If you develop a throbbing headache after eating or drinking, tell your healthcare professional. To prevent these problems, get a list of tyramine-rich foods to avoid from your healthcare professional while taking APO-LINEZOLID.

How to take APO-LINEZOLID:

  • Follow your healthcare professional’s instructions carefully.

  • Do not stop taking your medicine until your healthcare professional tells you to, even if you are feeling better. APO-LINEZOLID is not normally used in children and teenagers under 18 years old.

  • If you develop severe diarrhea during or over 2 months after treatment with APO-LINEZOLID, call your healthcare professional immediately (see What are possible side effects from using APO-LINEZOLID? section below).
  • Do not use any medicine to treat your diarrhea without first checking with your doctor.

  • Take APO-LINEZOLID tablets with or without food.

Usual dose:

Adults, 18 years and older:

One tablet (600 mg) twice a day (every 12 hours) for 10 to 28 days.

Your healthcare professional will tell you how long you need to take APO-LINEZOLID.

Overdose:

If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much APO-LINEZOLID, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.

Missed Dose:

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule as prescribed by your doctor.

Do not take double doses to make up for missing a dose.

What are possible side effects from using APO-LINEZOLID?

These are not all the possible side effects you may have when taking APO-LINEZOLID. If you experience any side effects not listed here, tell your healthcare professional.

Side effects may include:

  • Headache
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Change in taste

  • Fungal infection

    • white patches in mouth, tongue or throat (oral thrush)

    • for women, vaginal yeast infection with itching and irritation in the vagina, pain

      • (peeing), vaginal discharge
  • Tongue discoloration
  • Fever
  • Insomnia
  • Constipation
  • Rash
  • Dry mouth
  • Stomach discomfort
  • Increased thirst
  • High blood sugar (blurred vision, unusual thirst, increased frequency and amount of urination, a fruit-like breath odor, rapid breathing)
  • Low blood sugar (dizziness, headache, feeling sleepy, feeling weak, shaking, a fast heartbeat, confusion, hunger, or sweating)
  • Ringing in the ear
  • High blood pressure (watch your blood pressure closely)

Serious side effects and what to do about them

Symptom / effectTalk to your healthcare professionalStop taking drug and get immediate medical help
Only if severeIn all cases
UNCOMMON
Blood problems (decrease in the level of blood cells): Unusual bleeding or bruising, feeling very tired or weak, shortness of breath, fever and chills, sore throat
Vision problems: blurred vision, changes in colour vision, loss of vision
Numbness, tingling, prickling sensations or burning pain
Signs of too much lactic acid in the blood (lactic acidosis): feeling very tired or weak, feeling cold, severe nausea with or without vomiting, stomach pain, fast breathing, fast heartbeat, a heartbeat that does not feel normal, muscle pain or cramps
Allergic reactions: rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat

Serious side effects and what to do about them

Symptom / effectTalk to your healthcare professionalStop taking drug and get immediate medical help
Only if severeIn all cases
Clostridioides difficile colitis (bowel inflammation): severe diarrhea (bloody or watery) with or without fever, abdominal pain, or tenderness
Serotonin syndrome (occur within several hours of starting a new medicine or increasing the dose of a drug you are already taking): severe headache, agitation, fever, fast heartbeat, flushing, seizures, shakiness, sweating a lot, change in balance, change in thinking clearly, severe upset stomach and throwing up, severe loose stools

Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions (SCAR): severe skin reactions that may also affect other organs:

  • Skin peeling, scaling, or blistering (with or without pus) which may also affect your eyes, mouth, nose or genitals, itching, severe rash, bumps under the skin, skin pain, skin color changes (redness, yellowing, purplish)
  • Swelling and redness of eyes or face
  • Flu-like feeling, fever, chills, body aches, swollen glands, cough
  • Shortness of breath, chest pain or discomfort
UNKNOWN
Rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of damaged muscle): muscle pain, weakness or spasms, red-brown urine.

If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, tell your healthcare professional.

Reporting Side Effects

You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:

  • Visiting the Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/medeffect-canada/adverse-reaction-reporting.html) for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax; or
  • Calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.

NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.

Storage:

Store at room temperature, 15°C to 30°C.

You should not use your medication after the expiration date printed on the label.

Keep out of reach and sight of children.

If you want more information about APO-LINEZOLID:

  • Talk to your healthcare professional.
  • Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals, and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website: (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html); the manufacturer’s website (http://www.apotex.ca/products), or by calling 1-800-667-4708.

Last Revised: OCT 15, 2024

About this document

Source: Health Canada – Drug Product Database (DPD) and product monographs · DIN (Drug Identification Number): 02426552

Revision date stated in the text: October 15, 2024

Found a mistake? Write to us via the contact page.

The information on this site does not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.

Drug information for Apo-Linezolid

Rx or OTC
Prescription (Rx)?
DIN 02426552
Schedule(s) PRESCRIPTION
Active ingredient(s) Linezolid 600 MG
Dosage form(s) Tablet
Route(s) of administration Oral
Drug class (WHO ATC)
  1. J Antiinfectives for systemic use
    1. J01 Antibacterials for systemic use
      1. J01X Other antibacterials
        1. J01XX Other antibacterials
          1. J01XX08 Linezolid
Company APOTEX INC
Current status Marketed
Current status date October 31, 2019

Source: Health Canada – Drug Product Database (DPD) and product monographs, data as of November 1, 2026. Data from the Health Canada Drug Product Database, as published there. Not a substitute for the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.